Activating licensable component using aggregating device in home network

ABSTRACT

An aggregation device in a home network accumulates information from audio video apparatuses in the network that the apparatuses require enablement of respective licensable components for which no license event has yet occurred. The aggregation device sends an indication of the license events to a server so that appropriate royalties may be paid post-sale of the various devices.

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/970,215, filed Dec. 16, 2010 and to U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/412,552, filed Nov. 11, 2010.

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates generally to activating a licensablecomponent using an aggregating device in a home network.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Televisions incorporate a host of technologies to enable a viewer towatch programming from a variety of sources. These sources includeterrestrial broadcast sources of analog (using National TelevisionSystem Committee, or NTSC, format) and digital (using AdvancedTelevision System Committee, or ATSC, format) TV signals. ATSC signalstypically use video compression known as Motion Picture Experts Group(MPEG-2) and TVs must consequently support MPEG-2 decompression if theysupport ATSC programming.

Cable-provided “basic” television programming can also be provided inNTSC or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) format. Cable-provided“enhanced” programming may also be provided using high definitionmultimedia interface (HDMI) principles. Likewise, satellite-provided TVsignals may be received in HDMI. As well, video from the Internet can bedisplayed on many modern TVs in a variety of formats, including dataover cable service Internet specification (DOCSIS) format. Furthermore,TVs are often configured to support multiple audio formats, includingadvanced audio coding (AAC), Audio code 3 (AC3), digital theater system(DTS), and so on. And as contemporary viewers know, TVs are expected tosupport the presentation of electronic program guides (EPGs).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As understood herein, various TV technologies require license fees to bepaid. As further understood herein, many technologies that must be builtin to modern TVs to support various program sources may not be used.Nonetheless, license fees for the unused technologies are still paid,unnecessarily cascading cost. This can be complicated when a clientdevice may be part of a home network and may not have wide area networkconnectivity, instead communicating with other components in the networkusing Bluetooth or other network that might not employ InternetProtocol.

Accordingly, an aggregation device for a system which includes theaggregation device and at least one other audio video apparatuscommunicating with the aggregation device is provided. The aggregationdevice includes a processor and a computer readable storage mediumbearing instructions executable by the processor to determine that alicensable component of the audio video apparatus requires activation.Responsive to the determination that the licensable component requiresactivation, the processor communicates to a server using a wide areanetwork that a license event has occurred.

In some embodiments the processor can determine that at least onelicensable component of the audio video apparatus requires activation byreceiving from the audio video apparatus an identification of thelicensable component. In other embodiments the processor determines thatat least one licensable component of the audio video apparatus requiresactivation by inference based on a format of data received from theaudio video apparatus.

If desired, the aggregation device can receive information from theaudio video apparatus indicating the audio video apparatus has alreadyenabled the licensable component and based thereon, can inform theserver of the license event. Or, the aggregation device can receiveinformation from the audio video apparatus indicating that the audiovideo apparatus requests activation of the licensable component andbased thereon informs the server of the license event.

The aggregation device may inform the server of the license eventimmediately upon establishing a network connection with the wide areanetwork, or after a predetermined period of quiescent time. In exampleembodiments the aggregation device communicates to the server using thewide area network that the license event has occurred along with anidentification of the aggregation device only. In other embodiments theaggregation device communicates to the server using the wide areanetwork that the license event has occurred along with an identificationof the audio video apparatus.

In another aspect, a TV in a home network includes a TV tuner and one ormore of an ATSC demodulator, NTSC demodulator, QAM demodulator, MPEGdecoder. No licenses are been obtained on behalf of the TV for the tuneror demodulator(s). A display presents audio video content thereon inaccordance with high definition content protection (HDCP), with alicense for HDCP having been obtained on behalf of the TV.

In another aspect, a method includes establishing a device in a homenetwork as an aggregation device. The home network also includes atleast one audio video component communicating audio video data with theaggregation device. Information is received at the aggregation devicethat the audio video component has enabled or desires to enable alicensable component, and the aggregation device communicates that alicense event has occurred to a server based at least in part on theinformation that the audio video component has enabled or desires toenable a licensable component.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a non-limiting example system in accordancewith present principles;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example TV;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of non-limiting TV set up logic in accordancewith present principles;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for automatically detectingwhether an ATSC demodulator is required to be activated;

FIGS. 5-7 are schematic diagrams illustrating alternate methods foractivating an ATSC demodulator;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of non-limiting logic for licensing a componentin a TV;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a home network with a licenseinformation aggregating device; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of example logic used to coordinate licensablefeature activation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to the non-limiting example embodiment show in FIG.1, a system 10 includes an audio video device 12 such as a TV includinga TV tuner 16 communicating with a TV processor 18 accessing a tangiblecomputer readable storage medium 20 such as disk-based or solid statestorage. The TV 12 can output audio on one or more speakers 22. The TV12 can receive streaming video from the Internet using a built-in wiredor wireless modem 24 communicating with the processor 12 which mayexecute a software-implemented browser 26. Video is presented undercontrol of the TV processor 18 on a TV display 28 such as but notlimited to a high definition TV (HDTV) flat panel display. User commandsto the processor 18 may be wirelessly received from a remote control(RC) 30 using, e.g., rf or infrared. Audio-video display devices otherthan a TV may be used, e.g., smart phones, game consoles, personaldigital organizers, notebook computers and other types of computers,etc.

TV programming from one or more terrestrial TV broadcast sources 32 asreceived by a terrestrial broadcast antenna 34 which communicates withthe TV 12 may be presented on the display 28 and speakers 22. Theterrestrial broadcast programming may conform to digital ATSC standardsand may carry within it a terrestrial broadcast EPG, although theterrestrial broadcast EPG may be received from alternate sources, e.g.,the Internet via Ethernet, or cable communication link, or satellitecommunication link.

TV programming from a cable TV head end 36 may also be received at theTV for presentation of TV signals on the display 28 and speakers 22.When basic cable only is desired, the cable from the wall typicallycarries TV signals in QAM or NTSC format and is plugged directly intothe “F-type connector” 38 on the TV chassis in the U.S., although theconnector used for this purpose in other countries may vary. Incontrast, when the user has an extended cable subscription for instance,the signals from the head end 36 are typically sent through a STB 40which may be separate from or integrated within the TV chassis but inany case which sends HDMI baseband signals to the TV. Other types ofconnections may be used, e.g., MOCA, USB, 1394 protocols, DLNA.

Similarly, HDMI baseband signals transmitted from a satellite source 42of TV broadcast signals received by an integrated receiver/decoder (IRD)44 associated with a home satellite dish may be input to the TV 12 forpresentation on the display 28 and speakers 22. Also, streaming videomay be received from the Internet 46 for presentation on the display 28and speakers 22. The streaming video may be received at the computermodem 24 or it may be received at an in-home modem 48 that is externalto the TV 12 and conveyed to the TV 12 over a wired or wireless Ethernetlink and received at an RJ45 or 802.11x antenna on the TV chassis.

FIG. 2 shows details of an example TV 12. As shown, the terrestrialsignal in ATSC format is input to the TV tuner 16, as is basic cable inNTSC or QAM format in the event that basic cable is used and the wallcable plugged into the F-type connector 38. On the other hand, streamingInternet video may be received at a DOCSIS tuner 50 anddemodulated/decoded at a DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52. Typically, theDOCSIS components are housed separately from the TV 12 but in someembodiments may be included in the chassis of the TV 12.

The output of the tuner 16, depending on the signal format received, maybe sent to an NTSC decoder/demodulator 54, or a QAM decoder/demodulator56, or an ATSC decoder/demodulator 58. The output from the NTSCdecoder/demodulator 54 can be sent directly to the display 28 andspeakers 22 for presentation. On the other hand, the output from thedigital decoder/demodulators 56, 58 typically is sent to a transportstream demultiplexer 60, which separates the desired program from otherprograms in the selected stream and sends the desired program to an MPEGvideo decoder 62, which in turn uncompresses the MPEG desired programand sends the uncompressed program to the TV display 28 forpresentation. Audio from the demultiplexer 60 may be sent to an audiodecoder 64 which in turn sends the decoded audio to the speakers 22 forpresentation.

In contrast to the sequence of decoder/demodulators, demultiplexer, andMPEG decoders discussed above, video from either the STB 40 or IRD 44 isin baseband HDMI when it is received by the TV 12. Accordingly, thesignals from the STB 40 or IRD 44 are sent directly to the TV display 28for presentation without further video decompression between the STB 40or IRD 44 and TV display 28. Audio from the STB 40 or IRD 44 may stillbe in a format, e.g., AC3, that requires decoding prior to play on thespeakers 22 so the audio may be sent through the audio decoder 64 asshown. Likewise, audio from the ATSC terrestrial source 32 may be in AC3format and so may be sent through the audio decoder 64. Internet videofrom the DOCSIS decoder/demodulator 52 may be sent through thedemultiplexer 60 and decoders 62, 64 as shown.

Now referring to FIG. 3, at block 66 a user of the TV 12 can beconducted, using onscreen user interfaces (UI), through a set-up routineupon first power on or thereafter from a menu to set up various featuresof the TV. As an example, the user may be asked, for one or morelicensable components within the TV, if the user desires to use thatcomponent. This may be done implicitly, e.g., by asking the user if theuser wishes to automatically scan the broadcast spectrum to detectchannels, in which case it may be inferred that the ATSCdecoder/demodulator 58 and MPEG decoder 62 will be required and, hence,that licenses to use those components will be needed. Also, in thislatter case it may be inferred that a license to the terrestrialbroadcast EPG may be required, whereas such a license would not berequired if terrestrial broadcast were not being used as an inputsource.

Or again, the user may be given the choice to receive Internet videothrough the built-in modem 24 or from an external modem 48 and if thelatter is chosen, no license need be obtained for the internal browser26; otherwise, a license may be required to use the internal browser 26.

Proceeding to block 68, for each license that is inferred to be requiredbased on the user set-up selections at block 66, the TV 12 uploads arequest for the license over the Internet, for example, or back througha two-way cable system, etc. Or, as explained further below the requestmay be made by telephone. Regardless of how made, the request typicallyidentifies the component for which a license is required based on userinput at block 66 along with a unique identification of the TV, e.g., ahash of the TV model number and serial number, in some embodimentsencrypted if desired. Or, the unique identifier may be a high definitioncontent protect (HDCP) key selection vector (KSV) of the device 12, or amedia access control (MAC) address, or a digital transmission contentprotect (DTCP) certificate, one or more of which may be hashed with theserial number and/or model name of the device 12. This hashed result canbe sent to the server. The server can now uniquely identify the device.In the event the device needs to be repaired and the unique ID containedin the device is changed, the device's previous identity advantageouslycan be migrated to a new hashed ID. To simplify this migration of theID, the server can generate a unique key, and send it to the repaireddevice after receiving the initial hashed ID and notification (e.g.,from the device 12) that the device was repaired and requires a newunique ID. In some implementations the user of the device 12 canmanually recall the original ID, send it to the server, and the server,using the original ID, migrates records of the licenses previouslyenabled by the device 12 to the new ID.

The request may be made at set-up time. Alternatively, the request maybe cached for later upload when, e.g., an appropriate broadbandconnection is sensed. In any case, the request may be sent to anInternet server at a prestored Internet address or to a cable head endor to another appropriate licensing entity or agent.

Block 70 indicates that assuming it passes authentication the TV 12receives back the license in the form of licensing information,typically a code that must be input to the TV processor 18 to enable orunlock the associated component. Or the associated component may requiresoftware code to function and a critical piece of the code which isrelated to the licensable feature may be omitted when the device isvended, with this critical piece of code being supplied at block 70 toenable the licensable feature of the component. Prior to provision ofthe critical piece of code, the licensable feature of the component ineffect is not merely locked out, but rather is effectively missingaltogether, even though other parts of software code needed to executethe licensable feature are vended with the device.

The code may be automatically input to the appropriate internalcomponents of the TV at block 72 or the code may be displayed on the TVand the user prompted by means of an onscreen UI to enter the codeusing, e.g., the RC 30. Proper input of the code activates the relatedcomponent within the TV. Block 74 simply indicates that license fee datais maintained and used to generate billing information from thelicensing agency to the manufacturer of the TV, and may also be used togenerate marketing data as discussed further below. The data may be keptin the TV until uploaded to a licensing entity/agent by means notedabove.

FIG. 4 shows that automatic license determinations may be made outsideof a user set-up routine if desired. In the example shown in FIG. 4,commencing at decision diamond 76 it is determined whether apredetermined physical condition exists in the TV, e.g., a particularkind of connection, from which it may be inferred what licensablecomponents will be required. In the example of FIG. 4, the physicalcondition is the presence of a voltage in the automatic gain control(AGC) circuitry of the tuner 16, which would occur when, for instance, aconnection is made at the TV chassis to the terrestrial antenna 34 orwhen a cable from the wall is connected to the F-type connector 38.

When the tested-for physical condition exists, the logic flows to block78, in this example to activate the NTSC demodulator 54. This is donerecognizing that NTSC demodulators typically require no licenses, so toavoid unnecessarily requesting licenses, the signal at the tuner 16 isfirst tested to determine if it is an NTSC signal. PAL or SECAM can alsobe used. Decision diamond 80 indicates that the test may be whether“noise”, is present in the signal.

If the test indicates that NTSC signals only are present the logic ends,but otherwise the logic flows to block 82 to activate the QAMdecoder/demodulator 56. If QAM only is detected (by the QAMdecoder/demodulator 56 recognizing QAM signals and/or no noise) thelogic ends, but if the QAM decoder/demodulator 56 does not recognize thesignal, this indicates that the signal is neither QAM nor (from decisiondiamond 80) NTSC, with the inference thus being that the signal is ATSCrequiring use of the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58, which is activated atblock 86 to process the signal. At block 88 an uplink is obtained by theTV processor 18 to the above-described licensing entity/agent to obtainthe license code discussed above using the unique ID of the TV, and atblock 90 the code is received and used as necessary to permit use of theATSC decoder/demodulator 58.

Or, the step at block 90 can be omitted and the ATSC decoder/demodulator58 immediately activated on the assumption that the processor 18 isprogrammed to send a message to the licensing entity/agent thatlicensing accounting is to be generated after activation of the ATSCdecoder/demodulator 58.

Yet again, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4 the logic may flow firstfrom decision diamond 84 to blocks 88 and 90 to obtain the licensing“unlock” code and then hack to block 86 to activate the ATSCdecoder/demodulator 58 using the code, to ensure that no use may be madeof the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58 until such time as the licensingentity/agent has been informed of its use, has authenticated the TV forthe necessary ATSC license, and has determined that under business rulesthe license code should be downloaded to fulfill the request.

Additional example inference rules that may be employed pursuant toautomatically obtaining needed component licenses after vending the TVto avoid paying for unnecessary licenses prior to sale of the TVinclude, if there is ATSC present, it is less likely that QAM will befound; if ATSC is present, the total number of ATSC channels will bemuch smaller than the number for QAM channels. Also, when signals arereceived from an external modem 48, audio video programming does notrequire use of the built-in browser 26 and so receipt of video over anEthernet link without receipt of signals at the internal modem 24 may beinferred to mean that the browser 26 is not in use.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate logic that may be used during setup to obtainlicenses. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a person may input 92 a request toconduct auto-scan of available terrestrial or cable or satellitechannels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presented on an audio videodisplay product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV 12). In response,the AV display product sends an activation request for, e.g., the ATSCdecoder/demodulator 58 which may include the tuner ID and product 94 IDand/or the decoder/demodulator 58 ID/product 94 ID. Activation of theATSC decoder/demodulator 58 is executed at 96 using activation codesfrom one or more licensing entities/agents such as server 98, providedthe licensing entities/agents determine, based on the informationreceived from the product 94, that the product is entitled to a licensefor the requested component.

A log may be kept by the licensing entities/agents indicating whatproducts and what components in those products have been activated andbased on that log, licensing accounting data may be generated forpurposes of presenting licensing invoices for activated components tothe manufacturer of the product 94. In any case, 100 indicates that theproduct 94 receives the activation response, e.g., activation codes, toactivate the demodulator/decoder 58 at 101, which converts the product94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreennotification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using the product94.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, a personmay input 102 a request to conduct auto-scan of available terrestrial orcable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setup menu presentedon an audio video display product 94 (which may be implemented by the TV12). In response, at 104 telephone information including a phone numberto a licensing entity/agent is prepared and the user notified 106 of theinformation by means of, e.g., a user interface or prompt presented onthe product 94. The user enters 108 the information into a telephone,either by speaking the number or by holding the telephone adjacent aspeaker on the product 94 for receiving dual tone multifrequency (DTMF)tones from the product that are detected by the telephone and used toautomatically dial the number using, e.g., a voice response unit (VRU)110.

Other alternate embodiments involve sending short message service (SMS)messages to a server to send the above information or scanning bar-typecodes on the TV or component to send the requisite information to theserver to obtain the license. In any case, determining what licenses areneeded may be accomplished upon start up and/or periodically duringoperation.

Tuner activation is generated at 112 by licensing entities/agents 114such as Internet servers and the activation code discussed above sent116 to the VRU 110, which presents the code to the user to complete theactivation process at 120. Activation of the licensable component, e.g.,the ATSC decoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts theproduct 94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified usingonscreen notification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using theproduct 94.

FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment. Using, e.g., the RC 30, aperson may input 122 a request to conduct auto-scan of availableterrestrial or cable or satellite channels from, e.g., an onscreen setupmenu presented on an audio video display product 94 (which may beimplemented by the TV 12). In response, at 124 Internet informationincluding an Internet address of a licensing entity/agent is preparedand the user notified 126 of the information by means of, e.g., a userinterface or prompt presented on the product 94. The user enters 128 theinformation into, e.g., a home computer 127. Tuner activation isgenerated at 130 by licensing entities/agents 132 such as Internetservers and the activation code discussed above sent 134 to thecomputer, which presents 136 the code to the user by means of, e.g., aweb page or telephone to complete the activation process at 138.Activation of the licensable component, e.g., the ATSCdecoder/demodulator 58, is executed at 101, which converts the product94 to an ATSC-capable device. The user may be notified using onscreennotification that ATSC programming may now be viewed using the product94.

Alternatively, licensing information may be exchanged using shortmessage service (SMS) codes or by using bar codes. To use bar codes theTV can include a camera that images the bar codes on various components,which are interpreted by the processor 18 as identifying information.

In some instances, if only a limited number (e.g., two) NTSC channelsare needed, a limited and less expensive license may be requested andgranted to permit access to only those two channels through the NTSCdemodulator with a license being requested and granted to any componentsuch as a stereo audio decoder should the legacy device (typically, aVCR) use such audio.

FIG. 8 shows logic that may be executed by a licensing entity/agentcomputer. Commencing at block 140, a license request from, e.g., the TV12 is received at, e.g., any of the above-described servers or headends, which are programmed with software to execute the logic shown inFIG. 8. The unique ID discussed above is looked up at block 142 and therequesting device is authenticated at decision diamond 144 by, e.g.,determining if the device is on a list of approved devices. If desired,it may be further determined whether a license for the particularlicensable component that is the subject of the request has already beengranted and if so, authentication fails. If the requesting device isapproved and a license for the licensable component that is the subjectof the request has not already been granted, the logic moves to block146 to send license information, e.g., activation codes, to therequesting device.

Block 148 indicates that license accounting data is generated pursuantto sending the activation code to the requesting device. This accountingdata can be used to effect remuneration from the manufacturer of therequesting device to the licensing authority for the component that isthe subject of the request. At block 150 the authorized device databaseis modified to record the grant of the license.

Marketing data may be generated at block 152 based on the license grant.As an example, the total number of devices vended with the licensablecomponent may be compared against the number of licenses granted torequesting devices to ascertain usage of the component compared to othercomponents within the requesting device. For instance, it might be notedthat 30% of vended devices of a particular TV model ever requestactivation of the ATSC tuner. This data can moreover be correlated todemographic data obtained during device registration so that, as anexample, of the 30% of devices requesting activation of the TV tuner, itcan be known which geographic region was more likely to request suchactivation, or which demographic age group, etc. It may be furtherascertained, using device registration information submitted bypurchasers, that of the devices requesting activation of the ATSC tuner,for example, 90% of those devices were second or third home TVs thatconsequently can be inferred to lack a cable or satellite hookup.

It is preferred that once a licensable component has been activated byobtaining a license for it, it cannot subsequently be deactivated by theuser, to avoid multiple license payments for the same component.Accordingly, the TV processor 18 may be programmed to refusedeactivation commands from the user if any are input for any componentthat has been activated and licensed, at least insofar as deactivationwould require another license to reactivate.

Verification of license may also be provided by the TV processor sothat, for example, if a component license is requested by the TV but thecorresponding feature never used within some period of time, the TV canretract the license request and any license fees refunded as a result.

FIG. 9 shows that the above-described CE device 12 may be embodied as aTV 200 and in another implementation as a game console 202 thatcommunicates with the TV 200. The game console 202 and/or TV 200 maycommunicate through a wide area network such as the Internet 204 with alicense activation server 206, which can function similarly to theabove-described servers.

The TV 200 may receive HDMI video from the game console 202 for displaythereof on the TV. Also, the TV 200 may receive HDMI video through,e.g., an audio video amplifier 208 from a cable set top box 210 and avideo disk player 212 such as but not limited to a Blu-Ray disk player.

In accordance with principles above, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 9,some licensable components may require activation and others may not.For instance, since the TV 200 in the embodiment shown does not receiveinput from a terrestrial antenna, and instead receives TV signals fromthe set top box 210, no license for an internal TV tuner or ATSCdemodulator or NTSC demodulator or QAM demodulator or MPEG decoder isrequired. However, HDCP capability is required by the TV to properlydisplay HDMI form the set top box 210, disk player 212, and game console202. Furthermore, some licensable components in, e.g., the disk player212 may require activation but unless those components arepre-activated, the disk player 212, which does not communicate with theInternet but only with the TV 200 (through the amplifier 208 in theexample arrangement shown), cannot directly communicate with the server206 in accordance with principles above to activate licensablecomponents post-vending. Also, if the location of a TV changes toanother location/region where the activated features are not utilized ornot covered by a license agreement, the device can prompt the owner toallow deactivation. For example the device is moved from the USA toMexico (as sensed by the processor using, e.g., GPS input) where thereis no Rovi EPG service, or if the TV suffers an internal failure whichrenders a licensable feature to become unavailable (as sensed by theprocessor pursuant to, e.g., diagnostic testing), the processor maypresent a prompt on the TV display requesting the user to enter adeactivate command for the relevant component.

The logic of FIG. 10 thus assumes that various components in FIG. 9 suchas the TV 200 and disk player 212 are vended without all licensablecomponents being enabled or activated, e.g., HDMI/HDCP-related licensesonly activated, and thus without the manufacturer having paid licensefees related to those components in some cases under an agreement to paylicense fees on a single per-household basis for all components in thehouse once one or more licensable components are activated or under anagreement to pay license fees on a per-device basis for each deviceenabling a licensable component in accordance with principles herein.

Accordingly, at block 214 one of the devices in the household systemshown in FIG. 9 is established as an aggregation device. This can bedone by predetermined device type, e.g., the TV 200 is always designatedas the aggregation device, or by device-to-device negotiation, e.g., twodevices can negotiate with each other by exchanging capabilities and thedevice with the appropriate capabilities for an aggregation device,e.g., an Internet connection, can be mutually designated as theaggregation device.

Moving to block 216, other devices in the household system shown in FIG.9 inform the aggregation device of what licensable features orcomponents it either has enabled, thereby potentially triggering aroyalty payment event, or requires a key to enable in accordance withprior discussion. In some cases the aggregation device infers whatlicensable features or components another device requires by, e.g.,receiving data in a format such as HDMI from a sending device thatrequires a license. In other cases the aggregation device demands of theother device(s) to know the identity of any licensable componentsrequiring activation, along with the device(s) identification(s)according to above principles.

At block 218, upon establishing a network connection with the server 206or after a predetermined period of quiescent time, the aggregationdevice uploads to the server 206 license information for componentactivations that have occurred since the prior report sent to the server206 by the aggregation device. The information may include a list ofdevice IDs in the household and corresponding licensable features bydevice ID that have been enabled. Or, the information may include onlythe ID of the aggregation device as a proxy for the household systemalong with the identity of any licensable component that has beenactivated in the household system, with or without an indication of howmany different devices activated any particular component. When only asingle activation is indicated of a component that may have beenactivated by plural devices in the household, a per-household royaltyarrangement typically is in force. The necessary royalty payments aredetermined at block 220 on a per-device basis or per-household basisdepending on the business model being used.

Without limitation, the need for paying for licenses for the followingtechnologies may be determined during TV set-up or subsequently byautomatically detecting whether the technologies are being used:

Video Decoders

MPEG-2 video, MPEG-2 video with optical disk, MPEG4 advanced videocoding (AVC), MPEG4 Visual, MPEG video codec (VC) 1

Audio Decoders

unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 2ch, unified AAC (MPEG 2&4 AAC) 3ch, DolbyDigital AC3 2ch, Dolby Digital AC3 5.1ch, Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) 2ch,ProLogic2 (Surround Sound), MPEG audio 1&2 layer 1, 2, 3) MP3,DTS_Blueray disk (BD) (2CH/2CH+ Digital Out), BBE Sound, sound retrievalsystem (SRS) sound

EPGs

Gemstar Guide EPG, non-Gemstar EPG (SI-EPG)

Demodulators

Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) (D+BS+CS), ATSC,digital video broadcasting (terrestrial) (DVB-T)

Other Components Including Digital Rights Management (DRM)

Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG), digital transmission contentprotection (DTCP)/AACP/Open MG, HDMI, System Synchronized BrightnessControl (contrast enhancement), Inverter controller integrated circuit(IC), IEEE 802.11 wireless license, IEEE 802.11(n), BD Pool (player), BDPool (recorder), digital video disk (DVD) format, IEEE 802.11/16, IEEE1394

Software

JAVA, MHP/Ging a interactive TV software, JAVA-BD combination, DivXcodec software, Windows Media Audio, Windows Media Video, Windows MediaNetwork read, Windows Media digital rights management (DRM), audiowatermark, Netfront, web browser software.

Additionally, production encryption keys and test encryption keys may beused to permit testing a licensable component in production, pre-sale,without triggering the above-described license request mechanisms. A TVmay be placed in a test activation mode used only in the manufacturingor test phase, and if desired the test mode may have a hardwired timeout. A test key or keys can be used to activate licensable componentsand the license request algorithm recognizes a test key and responsiveto the recognition does not request a license. The test activation modemay be hardwired to deactivate after a single power cycle and the TVprocessor may not permit reactivation of the test mode thereafter.Activation of a licensable component thereafter requires a productionkey which is associated with a license request.

While the particular ACTIVATING LICENSABLE COMPONENT USING AGGREGATINGDEVICE IN HOME NETWORK is herein shown and described in detail, it is tobe understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by thepresent invention is limited only by the claims.

1. Aggregation device for a system comprising the aggregation device andat least one other audio video apparatus communicating with theaggregation device, the aggregation device comprising: processor;computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by theprocessor to: determine that at least one licensable component of theaudio video apparatus requires activation; and responsive to thedetermination that the licensable component requires activation,communicate to a server using a network that a license event hasoccurred.
 2. The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein the processordetermines that at least one licensable component of the audio videoapparatus requires activation at least in part by receiving from theaudio video apparatus an identification of the licensable component. 3.The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein the processor determines thatat least one licensable component of the audio video apparatus requiresactivation by inference based on a format of data received from theaudio video apparatus.
 4. The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein thedevice receives information from the audio video apparatus indicatingthe audio video apparatus has already enabled the licensable componentand based thereon, informs the server of the license event.
 5. Theaggregation device of claim 1, wherein the device receives informationfrom the audio video apparatus indicating that the audio video apparatusrequests activation of the licensable component and based thereoninforms the server of the license event.
 6. The aggregation device ofclaim 1, wherein the device informs the server of the license eventimmediately upon establishing a network connection with the network. 7.The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein the device informs the serverof the license event after a predetermined period of quiescent time. 8.The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein the aggregation devicecommunicates to the server using the network that the license event hasoccurred along with an identification of the aggregation device only. 9.The aggregation device of claim 1, wherein the aggregation devicecommunicates to the server using the network that the license event hasoccurred along with an identification of the audio video apparatus. 10.A TV in a home network, the TV comprising: a TV tuner; at least one of:an ATSC demodulator, NTSC demodulator, QAM demodulator, MPEG decoder, nolicenses having been obtained on behalf of the TV for the tuner ordemodulator(s); and a display presenting audio video content thereon inaccordance with high definition content protection (HDCP), a license forHDCP having been obtained on behalf of the TV.
 11. Method comprising:establishing a device in a home network as an aggregation device, thehome network also including at least one audio video componentcommunicating audio video data with the aggregation device; receivinginformation at the aggregation device that the audio video component hasenabled or desires to enable a licensable component; and communicatingthat a license event has occurred to a server based at least in part onthe information that the audio video component has enabled or desires toenable a licensable component.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theaggregation device is established by designating a predetermined devicetype as the aggregation device.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein theaggregation device is established as a result of capability negotiationbetween at least two devices in the home network.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the information indicates that the audio videocomponent has enabled a licensable component.
 15. The method of claim11, wherein the information indicates that the audio video componentdesires to enable a licensable component.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the information includes an identification of the licensablecomponent.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the information includesno identification of the licensable component and includes a format ofdata received from the audio video apparatus.
 18. The method of claim11, comprising communicating from the aggregation device to the serverthat the license event has occurred along with an identification of theaggregation device only.
 19. The method of claim 11, comprisingcommunicating from the aggregation device to the server that the licenseevent has occurred along with an identification of the audio videoapparatus.